Larry Fitzgerald shares theory for why Marvin Harrison Jr.’s Cardinals tenure fell flat

Coming out of Ohio State, Marvin Harrison Jr. was labeled a “can’t miss” prospect.

After the Arizona Cardinals selected him fourth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, he wasn’t able to live up to those expectations, and his Cardinals tenure came to an end during Week 5 of the NFL season when he was abruptly traded to the Houston Texans along with a 2027 sixth-round pick in exchange for 2027 second- and seventh-round picks.

Former Cardinals legendary wide receiver and Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald was asked on Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta Thursday why he thought the situation didn’t work out despite the early hype.

“He was as much of a can’t-miss prospect as there is coming out of the draft, he’s done it at the highest level, dominated at Ohio State … so the pick was right,” Fitzgerald said. “The evaluation was right. I just don’t really know what went wrong. I think he’s a great athlete. For you to really be at your best, like your confidence level has to be high. I don’t know if his confidence was where it could have been in the latter part of the relationship. And that definitely can affect your psyche.”

Fitzgerald went on to say that lack of confidence affects everything from your ability to prepare to your self-worth as a human altogether.

Harrison’s rookie season displayed some flashes, as he totaled 885 yards and eight touchdowns, but each year onward went progressively downhill. He gained 608 yards in 2025 and only 85 yards in his four games with the Cardinals this season.

“You have to be accustomed to beating back that doubt,” Fitzgerald said. “That voice in your mind, it will always be there. You just have to get better at beating it back. … It can become difficult when the noise becomes so loud as it was here around town for him.”

In Harrison’s first game with the Texans in London, they picked up the win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, 34-31. Harrison had three catches for 34 yards.

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